Barcelona title hopes hinge on Calderon performance

Not for the first time Barcelona travel to Madrid with LaLiga on the line, and Real Madrid’s loss at Estadio Mestalla has filled the Catalan club with belief after it had seemed they were left for dead in the aftermath of the Paris Saint-Germain debacle.

It has therefore been a change of heart for Barcelona and the trip to the Estadio Vicente Calderon is now seen in a different light, hoping to prove themselves worthy title contenders with a win over Diego Simeone’s side.

A win in Madrid would give Barcelona a huge moral boost that could lead to a late push for the LaLiga title.

“To win LaLiga, Barcelona have to win in Madrid,” Pep Guardiola said years back when still in charge, and a 2-6 score line against Real comes to mind.

In recent seasons, travelling to the Calderon has been almost as important as the Clasicos at the Estadio Bernabeu, and there is little doubt that if Barcelona want to retain their title, they’ll have to win in Madrid first.